Nena - Feuer Und Flamme

2002 remastered reissue of 1985 album from German pop-rock act best-known in the U.S. for their 1984 hit, '99 Luftballons'. Features updated packaging. 10 tracks with lyrics included (in German of course). Sony. Album Description

5 stars for "It's All In The Game"

I also think this was Nena's best album. As you may have read, "Feuer Und Flamme" appeared in English briefly in 1985 under the name "It's All In The Game" as the follow-up to "99 Luftballons." Well I loved the English version a lot. It was one of the best albums of 1985 in my opinion. I'd really like to see "It's All In The Game" released on CD. I would buy it in a heartbeat. Here was the U.S. running order...

Side One:
1. Utopia
2. It's All In The Game
3. Young As You
4. Are You Awake?
5. Woman On Fire
Side Two:
1. Warning Signs
2. Let's Humanize
3. Anyplace, Anywhere, Anytime
4. You Don't Know What Love Is
5. Auf Wiedersehen

I did enjoy hearing the "German" version, but understandingly, I came away feeling like an outsider. Not knowing German very well and the running order was different, I was slightly unsatisfied.

Please release "It's All In The Game" on compact disc. February 14, 2007

Decent album from this underrated New Wave artist

Feuer & Flamme (1985). Nena's third studio album.

Nena was one of those new wave artists back in the mid 80s in which the only thing people can associate her with is her only hit, the German war protest song '99 Luftballoons'. Her band did hit a high point with that song back then, but unfortunately like other one-hit-wonder artists such as A Flock Of Seaguls, her other music is VASTLY underrated. People only acknowledge that one overplayed hit and ignore everything else she's done. YOU PEOPLE DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE MISSING!

After she scored the famous hit, Nena (also known as Gabriella Kerner) may have disappeared from the popular music scene, but proceeded to create a few more albums in the years to come. She never hit the same success as with 99 Luftballoons, but her music took no hit in quality whatsoever. We arrive in 1985 to her third studio album, and arguably the best one. The only tough part about listening to this album is that unlike the previous album, unless you understand fluent German or know someone who understands it, you aren't going to have any clue as to what she's saying. I still don't understand anything, but the songs are no less catchy. Thankfully, another reviewer took the time to translate the song titles. Nena's voice is somewhat of an acquired taste. I still haven't completely gotten used to it yet and I know there are many better female vocalists out there, but at the same time her vocals aren't bad either. Here's Feuer & Flamme:

1) Utopia- A straight ahead pop number with catchy hooks abound. There's an interesting saxaphone solo later in the song. 9/10

2) Haus Der Drei Sonnen- A mid paced melodic pop track with latin drum patterns played in certain parts of the song. Very good. 9/10

3) Jun Wie Du- The uplifting rocker which gets in your head and has a tough time letting go. Great usage of guitar and keyboards here. One of the album's highlights. 10/10

4) Ein Brief- A slow techno ballad of sorts. This track has a great melody, though it doesn't stand out as much as some of the others here. 8/10

5) Feur Und Flamme- Very much like Jun Wie Du, but quite a bit catchier. The keyboards used in the second verse gives this song sort of an Asian vibe to it. I like it when bands employ influences from other cultures. 9/10

6) Gestern Nacht- A purely pop song employing yet another culture's style. Kind of reminds me of Miami Sound Machine. Worth a listen, but nothing to noteworthy. 7/10

7) Das Alte Lied- A very strange track with schizoid verses and an odd chorus. Definite album filler. 6/10

8) Du Kennst Die Liebe Nicht- Another slow track, but with much less keyboards than track 4. It's okay but a little lightweight for my taste. 6/10

9) Es Wird Schon Weitergehn- Yet another slower track, though this time not a ballad. Still like the last track, it seems kind of like lightweight filler material. 7/10

10) Irgendwie Irgendwo Irgendwann- After a long streak of side-long mediocre tracks, we arrive at the end, and thankfully it goes out with this moody masterpiece. Incredible synth build up at the beginning followed by a melodic rocker towards the end. Of all the tracks here, this one stands far and above as the best one. 10/10

Though not a great album by many means, at least half of it consists of good new wave material which goes too often ignored in the tall shadow of her popular hit. 3 stars for all the great songs, but most of the second half isn't up to par with the rest. Only buy this album if you are a big fan of new wave pop or if you are interested in what Nena did besides 99 Luftballoons. This imported version is remastered very well and has a very affordable price on it, so if you get any version of this album at all, let this version be it. WORTH A LISTEN. October 18, 2003

AWESOME CD!!

I was only 12 when I got this LP in 1985 -- this was also the year when I saw Nena and the band in tour and they were promoting this CD (LP back then). I absolutely LOVE all the songs. In Gestern Nacht - Nena does a fabulous job in singing! Irgendwie is such a powerful song and Haus Der Drei Sonnen is such a unique, super song too! It took me a while to really appreciate Feuer & Flamme, but the song is super good too! This was clearly the band's highest and bestproduction... February 2, 2003

English Translations of the Non-English Song Titles

In order to at least comprehend the meaning of the non-English song titles, here are the English translations of the non-English song titles:

1. Utopia( Utopia )
2. Haus der drei Sonnen( House of the Three Suns )
3. Jung wie du( Young As You )
4. Ein Brief( A Letter )
5. Feuer und Flamme( Fire and Flame--Literally/Dead Keen--Figurative )
6. Gestern Nacht( Yesterday Night/Last Night )
7. Das alte Lied( The Old Song )
8. Du kennst die Liebe nicht( You Do Not Know What Love Is )
9. Es wird schon weitergehn( It Will Already Continue/Go Further )
10. Irgendwie, irgendwo, irgendwann( Somehow, Somewhere, Sometime/Anyhow, Anywhere, Anytime )

By the way, track numbers 4 and 9 are interchanged, so track number 4 in the cd album is actually "Es wird schon weitergehn", while track number 9 is actually "Ein Brief". Furthermore, the cd album has the maxi version of the song "Irgendwie, irgendwo, irgendwann", which is around 7 minutes and 15 seconds long, while the original 12" vinyl LP album has the original album version of this song, which is around 5 minutes and 14 seconds long.
December 6, 2001

I love Nena!

OK, Nena continued her way to the success, and I think his is quite a good album, but I'm not sure is better than the international "99 Luftballons". There is the great power of the music of the eighties, and even though I'm only 18 ( I was 3 years old when it was released in 1985)I love her music. Even on songs so simple like "Du kennst die Liebe nicht" Nena sounds just incredible. And you'll love "Es wird schon weitergehen". But at the end of it all, it's a great album. And if Nena ever read this, I'd like to tell her that I love her! May 29, 2001

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